Overview
- Duration: 6 Days / 5 night
- Difficulty: Moderado [icono_lvl2]
- Season: Jun to Aug/Nov to Feb
Description
Experience the ultimate Ecuadorian mountain journey along the Avenue of the Volcanoes. Acclimatize with scenic hikes up Santa Cruz Hill (3,900 m / 12,795 ft), then summit El Corazón (4,788 m / 15,709 ft) and Iliniza Norte (5,126 m / 16,818 ft) before a restorative day at Quilotoa Lagoon (3,914 m / 12,841 ft). The adventure culminates with the Cotopaxi two-day push from José Rivas Refuge (4,864 m / 15,958 ft) to the summit (5,897 m / 19,347 ft). The climb is not highly technical, but requires crampons, ice axe, helmet, harness, and ropes. Depart around midnight from the refuge to catch sunrise over the Andes.
Itinerary
Day 1: Hike Santa Cruz
Pick-up at 08:00 and transfer to Ilinizas Mountain Lodge, our acclimatization base, from where we will depart to different mountains during the program. After a short rest and gear check, we continue to the trailhead of Santa Cruz Hill (3,900 m / 12,795 ft). This mountain is ideal to begin the acclimatization process. After a couple of hours of hiking through Andean páramo with chuquiragua and polylepis trees, we return to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.
- Altitude: 3900 meters (12,795 ft feet)
- Meals: Box Luch,Dinner
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge
- Distance: 6 km (round Trip)
- Duration : 3 to 4 hours (including summit time)
Day 2: Summit Corazón Volcano
From El Chaupi village, we will start early in the morning after breakfast at 7:00 am. We will drive up to the trailhead (13,120ft/4.000m), where we start our hike. The first part of the hike takes us up through the small Andean grass. Then we will get on the sandy and scramble section, which leads to Corazón summit. The hike is about 4-6 hours long. Return to the Lodge.
- Altitude: 4788 meters (15,78 feet)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Luch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge
- Distance: 8 y 15 km (round Trip)
- Duration: 4 hours (including summit time)
Day 3: Summit Iliniza North
We start early in the morning after breakfast at 7:30 am. We will drive up to the “La Virgen parking lot” (12,795ft/3.900m). From there, we will start a 3-hour hike up to the “Nuevos Horizontes Refuge” (15,580ft/4.750m). After resting, we will continue towards the saddle formed between both peaks and then head up to Illiniza North summit. It will take us 2 to 3 hours to reach the summit. The way back to the parking lot takes around 2 hours. Drive back to El Chaupi.
- Altitude: 5.126 meters (16.818 feet)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Luch,Dinner
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge
- Distance: 10 km (round Trip)
- Duration : 6 to 8 hours (including summit time)
Day 4: Quilotoa Lagoon Rest Day
We’ll leave from El Chaupi in the morning and drive to Quilotoa Lagoon. During the tour, we will stop at an Indian hut and visit the Tigua community to observe their leather crafts. The tour will take about 4 hours, then we’ll arrive at the viewpoint to admire the crater and lagoon. We will descend along a varying road for about an hour to the bottom of the lagoon, where we can take photos and rest. After lunch, we’ll return to El Chaupi after a 3-hour drive.
- Altitude: 3,914 meters (12.841 feet)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation: Ilinizas Mountain Lodge
- Distance: 108 km Transfer
- Duration: 2 (hours hike)
Day 5: Cotopaxi Refuge
From El Chaupi, we will drive south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes until reaching the Cotopaxi National Park entrance. From there, we’ll drive east to the Cotopaxi parking lot (4.500m/14,763 ft), then hike for about an hour to the Jose Ribas Refuge. We will have dinner and rest until midnight before making our final ascent.
- Altitude: 4,864 meters (15,958 feet)
- Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodations: Cotopaxi Refuge (Jose Rivas)
- Distance: 1.5 km (from parking lot to refuge)
- Duration: 1 hours
Day 6: Summit Cotopaxi
Midnight will be our wake-up time, and departure to the top will be around 01:00 am after a light breakfast. The climb will take about 6 to 8 hours. Once at the summit, we’ll take time to take pictures of the crater and surroundings. Then we’ll descend back to the refuge, waking about 2 to 3 hours. After packing our belongings and eating, we’ll head down to the parking lot, where transportation will be ready to take us to Quito.
- Altitude: (5,897 meters / 19,347 feet)
- Meals: (Breakfast/-/)
- Accommodations: -
- Distance: Climb 10 k (round trip).
- Duration: 5 to 6 hours to the summit.
What's included
- Acclimatization Climbing Program
- Ecuadorian qualified and experienced local Mountain Guide (ASEGUIM/UIAGM) ratio 2 climbers -1 guide)
- A registered and fully licensed Tour Operator
- Technical mountain equipment (crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet)
- Land transportation and transfers
- Accommodations:
- 4 night at Ilinizas Mountain Lodge
- 1 night at Jose Rivas Refuge
- All meals during the hikes and climbs (shown above)
Not included
- International flight tickets
- Meals and drinks in hotels (lunch, dinner)
- Insurance of any kin
- Tips
- Travel accident and health insurance
- Luggage insurance and trip cancellation
- Other non-specified expenses
Rates 2025 | Adventure Rates
- 1 Person………… 2280 USD
- Group of 2……… 1250 USD per person
- Group of 3……… 1450 USD per person
- Group of 4……… 1180 USD per person
Map
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